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Goal: Acoustic optimization of a given mandolin through balancing response of ribs, tone bars or braces, and bridge. |
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A musical instrument must work as a whole to effectively project balanced and clear sound. Recent work on violins demonstrated that extremely small adjustments in the mass of specific areas of violin ribs, bass bar, and bridge substantially improve tone, clarity, focus, and balance. These adjustments are quite distinct from adjustments of the parts before assembly (e.g., free plate analysis) because they deal with the behavior of the instrument's structure as a whole. They are also distinguished from structural modification (e.g., tone bar shaving) because they rely on manipulation of very small areas through minor burnishing or wood removal, rather than change in structural characteristics. Why this process works so effectively remains unknown. Research demonstrating that higher frequency vibration modes often focus vibration into quite small areas. The mandovoodootm process evolved from this violin work. The process is iterative and addresses in order the ribs, bridge, and tone bars. Pluck a string and run a fingertip over a mandolin's ribs, listening carefully. The apparent pitch of the vibrating string will usually change depending on where the fingertip touches. The same is true of tone bars and the bridge. The mandovoodootm process involves the use of small scrapers to even out the response of these mandolin elements. The elements are not independent. Adjustments to the tone bars affect and require readjustment of the ribs. Several iterations result in stability and a quite distinct improvement in balance, clarity, and response. See here for more details. |
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| The mandovoodoo™ process was invented by and is only performed by Stephen Perry of Gianna Violins, the world's premier seller of fine Eastman Mandolins. Copyright © 2005-7 Stephen K. Perry. No use without written permission. By viewing you agree to all site terms and conditions. mandovoodoo.com (tm) is a division of Gianna Violins. |
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